News & Articles

Despite Singapore’s small size as a nation compared to the other world powers, it has not faltered in advancing its technological advancements and according to Jeff Zhang, Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Group, has become “well known for its world-leading technology R&D institutions, strong base of academic research talent, a population that is receptive to the next big thing in technology, and supportive government policies”. A 2017 index ranked the Republic among the world’s best for the strength of IP protections, demonstrating Singapore’s commitment to nurturing and protecting high-value innovation.

So what does this mean for PR and Citizenship applicants with the relevant experience and expertise?

Following the successful transition of Permanent Residence applications to be fully automated online via ICA’s e-PR, individuals applying or sponsoring their loved ones to attain Singapore Citizenship will now have to complete their submissions thru ICA’s e-Service portal.

Embracing technology, this is part of the Governments’ plan to consolidate all citizen and PR services via SingPass for applicants’ security and convenience.

But what does this mean for applicants? Are there changes to the reviewing process?

The Singapore Department of Statistics have recently released their Population in Brief (PIB) 2018 Report with fresh data on Singapore’s population. It provides key updates and trends on Singapore’s population, particularly in relation to citizenship marriages, births and Immigration.

As Immigration Specialists who meet hopeful Singapore PR and Citizenship applicants daily, our industry insights has once again proved vital in assisting many of our clients attain approval for the year 2018. As we deep dive into the data presented in these reports we would like to bring focus on the following findings :

In another insightful article, EDB highlights Singapore as the center for Artificial Intelligence and other R&D innovations. According to the Global Innovation Index, Singapore was ranked #1 in Asia and #7 globally among the world's most innovative countries of 2017.

Both global corporate giants and local start-ups thrive in Singapore where R&D is concerned (particularly in technology and biomedical science).

Quote: "An inviting business climate and a talented workforce are attracting technology companies to Singapore".

In another quote, "The nation will maintain little restriction on foreign labour for high-end jobs such as in artificial intelligence, while keeping a quota system for lower-skilled industries including construction"

Would this perhaps indicate increasing opportunities for Singapore PR / Citizenship applicants employed in this sector?

The National Service (NS) debacle in recent weeks has caused quite a confusion amongst both local Singaporeans and foreigners who have acquired Singapore Permanent Resident status as well as those who have gone on to take up Singapore Citizenship.

For homegrown Singaporeans, the verdict is quite clear. But what about foreigners and their sons who are already existing Singapore PRs/Citizens or are close to securing PRs/Citizenship statuses?

As a Senior Consultant doing inbound Singapore immigration work for several years now, I feel it would be timely that I provide hopeful applicants with some of my observations for the Singapore PR / Citizenship applications I have assisted with so far in 2018.

Lost and Clueless on next steps after multiple Rejections

While it seems easy at the onset, preparing your own documents for your PR / Citizenship applications, many of the clients I meet this year revealed that it really is a 'stab in the dark' approach and expressed extreme demoralization when they found out that their application got rejected, yet again, despite putting in so much effort.

Upon probing further, looking into the set of documents they prepared, it was clear that there were several mistakes in the preparation work and the entirety of the applicant's profile was not well represented. What makes it worse is that there were so many gaps of important information missing.

Later on, I also uncovered that majority had actually taken advice and guidelines via friends, or online forums. While these sources may strike you as reliable, in essence, they have zero experience handling actual immigration work and hence, in short, makes them Poor opinion leaders.

Concerns about working with Immigration Consultancies

As expected, when applicants have exhausted all options that does not require them to fork out any money, they felt that perhaps it was time to seek a second opinion from a professional. After all, since the initial consultation is at no charge, it would cost nothing but just a little bit of time.

However, after surveying several consultancies, their concerns were amplified because :

1) Guarantee of Approvals with High Success Rates seems to good to be true

2) Charges can be quite high

3) Uncomfortable with certain high pressure sales tactics

If you have been shopping around for help, I am sure these points resonates well. So what is the next best option? How different do I and my company help our clients?

It is no secret that Singapore prides itself on being a global
eCommerce hub. As the nation continue to make leaps into investing in the right infrastructure and embracing technology, there is a critical need in having the right people for the job. By and large, over the last year, we have monitored closely and seen a growing number of IT & Finance professionals working here and have helped many secure a permanent future in Singapore as Permanent Residents or new Citizens. We have also assisted several companies in this industry to set up shop in Singapore.

Akin to applying for a job, as a hopeful Singapore Permanent Resident / Citizenship applicant,from the Technology sector,you will need to prime yourself to be a strong candidate for approval. So what does it take to be fully considered as a Permanent Resident / Citizen here in Singapore? Or as corporation or business-owner, how do we set-up a base here to have a share of the pie?

As a Senior Documents specialist doing inbound Singapore immigration work for several years now, I feel it would be beneficial to provide hopeful applicants with some nuggets of information pertaining Singapore PR / Citizenship applications.

Delay due to last minute document preparation

Often, when preparing application documents packages for clients, my work gets delayed when clients take their own time to prepare their documents. This means that should there be any issues with their documents, more time will be wasted in getting these rectified. This will result in missing the originally planned submission deadline.

Document that are not up to standard

At IASG, we have a well-run and efficient document preparation system that is planned to make clients' work as easy and hassle free as possible. We plan our client schedules accordingly so that the sufficient reaction time is catered for in the event there are unexpected hurdles faced in obtaining specific documents. Examples would include :

1) Documents left behind in their home country

2) Documents that has faded over time,

3) Documents which require professional translations and notarization to meet ICA's standards

It is imperative that these document reviews be done on time so that clients can submit a smooth application and will not face immediate rejection by ICA due to insufficient or improper documenting. So what should you do? How do you ensure that your application does not go to waste?

In an article published in March 2018 by the Economic Development Board of Singapore, the write shared how Singapore checks all the boxes for 'next hotbed of innovation'.

According to a 2017 study, Singapore ranks as the most popular place in the world to launch a new business, with a line of seasoned global tech giants and start-ups with bright revolutionary ideas already taking advantage of the talent pool, infrastructure, security and relative ease in which to commence business operations in Singapore.

In an
article recently published by the Economic Development Board of Singapore, Principal at Mercer Singapore, Rahul Mudgal shares why Singapore stands out as the region's innovation hub.

At IASG, we believe we set ourselves apart from competitors because we keep ourselves relevant with the nation's policies and economic interests. In assisting clients to front a strong application, it is imperative that staff at IASG keeps themselves updated on trends and policies that can elevate or have a direct impact on application approval chances.